The US Had a Chance to Lead in Chipmaking Tech, and Missed It
An ASML High-NA extreme ultraviolet system
Photographer: Michel de Heer/ASML
It was a strategic misstep of epic proportions. The US took a crucial early role in developing the semiconductor technology that underpins today’s revolution in artificial intelligence. Yet it’s a Dutch firm that now holds a monopoly on the process, and Asian manufacturers that dominate production.
Extreme ultraviolet lithography machines are arguably the most significant electronic devices in the world right now. Their arrival has enabled the assembly of chips offering a step-change in processing power, paving the way for a new generation of AI tools. The vast and multi-level computation performed by AI platforms such as OpenAI’s ChatGPT and Google’s Gemini accelerates a multitude of tasks usually performed by humans. That’s made access to EUV technology a matter of national economic security for the US and China.